2008/03/30

"..................you'll see we met the band - Bruce in afternoonand others after gig. They were real gentlemen, very humble and friendly toeveryone but particularly towards Ben my son. To give you an idea hedescribed it as 'the best night of his life'... It included: as well asmeeting them, and the thrill of first concert, he actually sat on the stagefor second half of the concert, got the set list, and was given theplectrums of Bruce Foxton and Russell Hastings. As well as being special forhim, I can honestly say it was a truly amazing experience for everyonethere. We already know they are great songs but the performance was superband a fantastic atmoshpehere. Weller or not, I'd really recommend any fan ofthe music to see them.Interestingly David Moore from the band was telling us afterwards thatWeller 'has given them his blessing' now - the apparent associated bigincrease in Jam (and weller) cd sales after their 07 tour may havehelped.... - not that it really made any difference to the concert as we allthoroughly enjoyed it regardless.

Dunno if anyone else is into this band, but I've just got back fromseeing The Rifles. They had promised a special surprise for tonightsgig. Waiting outside to get in, rumours were that a certain Mr Wellerwould be there! Although their set was quite short at only 40 minutes,they were obviously coming back for an encore, and a keyboard and micwere brought on stage. The Rifles returned, to introduce a specialguest, Paul Weller!!! He then accompanied The Rifles on keyboards andbacking vocals for She's The Only One. However, the best part of thenight followed, as Weller picked up his guitar, and the opening chordsof the most appropriate song from his back catalogue rang out, and toa fantastic reception from the crowd Eton Rifles rang out again!! Atthe end of the gig it was that song that was the most talked aboutpart of a great evening!!

2008/03/27

Roger Daltrey says that he has great respect for the Who's latter-day drummer Kenney Jones for discussing his time with the band for the new Who documentary Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who.

Daltrey says that he was glad that Jones, who joined the band in 1979 after the death of Keith Moon and was forced out of the band by Daltrey a decade later, chose to participate in the film and shed light onto the band's career: "It took a lot of courage for Kenney to do that, and indeed for people like (former manager) Chris Stamp. You know, it's a painful part of their past. I'm sure it's still painful for him to have to revisit. The great thing is we're still all friends out of all this and we respect each other and we love each other."

2008/03/26

Fay Hallam Trinity are a mixture of 60s, 70s, Mod, Psychedelic and Pop with a big splash of Hammond Organ thrown in. They embark on a SECOND European tour this year, and have four new songs available for download now. Click on the shop to buy the first album, Realm, the single and EP. Fay Hallam, Sean Kelly and Russ Baxter have previously been band members of Phaze, The Discords, Prime Movers, Phaze and Makin' Time which included Martin Blunt of The Charlatans.

"Realm" really is one of those untouchable albums within the canon of a musician. Transcendental for the fan who has thus far played along casually and will find his own expectations left in the dust. I imagine that Fay will do something grander in the future, but it seems unlikely that it will be as dramatically propelled forward as this. "Realm" is the beginning of a new Fay Hallam, perhaps a legend even, and undoubtedly has sidestepped the "more of the same" establishment.

Paul Weller created Respond Records during the last phase of The Jam. In his mind the idea of a "new motown" promoting young artists and bands for a contemporary soul label. The project had a big step forward during the early days of The Style Council, with chart singles by Tracie, interesting records by The Questions, the late Vaughan Toulouse etc. It was almost an authomatic rule for every Weller/TSC fan, like me, to buy all the Respond stuff together with the Style Council stuff, also because Weller and Talbot were personally involved in the writing/production and playing, Weller wrote 'officially' many songs for Tracie and sometimes played guitar as "Jake Fluckery".. But he lost interest a couple of years later and the "new motown" closed.

In the late 90s the Japanese label "Trattoria" (funny choice for a name, means "cheap restaurant" in italian) reissued on CD -for the first and only time- almost all the Respond production, including some bonus never-heard-before tracks added at the end of the original albums. Those CDs are out of print and Trattoria is no more too. I started hunting for those CDs only recently and been lucky to find some cheap copies on ebay (it's not so easy, sometimes they rise at ridiculous high prices there, beware). The good people at splinters helped me to complete the collection, sending me the missing CDrs.

Personally I can't stand anymore a great part on this sound, so 80s and plastic, but there are some real gems inside... like Tracie's "I love you when you sleep" written by Elvis Costello, "Nothing happens here but you". "Spring summer autumn" and "Far from the hurting kind" to name 3 of many written by Paul Weller, or Questions' "Tear soup", "Tuesday sunshine" and "Someone's got yo lose" (with Steve White), the early Big Sound Authority and A-Craze.

So here 'tis, the full Respond/Trattoria "box" for all the Splinters/Cornershop readers. If you want to know more about it check MySpaceRespondRecords

Dedicated to the top people of the Small Faces Area: Mick Taylor, Brent Yeomans (17 black), John Hellier of course, Val...

"A lot of the things we borrowed were form things I'd been passionate about some time earlier, so I could look back at them affectionately. For instance I knew all teh Small Faces' records backwards when I was 13, but I didn't have the occasion or the ability or the platform to use what I'd learned from them until I was 23. So when we were doing something like You Belong To Me, and it ended up like Whatcha Gonna Do About It crossed with The Last Time, I didn't worry about it. The references were so fleeting. "

2008/03/23

Dedicated to my so beloved Dad, 66 years old and more MOD than many people even if he doesn't know it himself. We went to see the Stones in the Stade de France together and it was great (hey, they are their best self tribute band in a way). This man worked all his life with very difficult kids (they weren't alright at all) and he helped them as much as he can without asking a thank. Top Man. And he has the same hairs than Ian McLagan, don't you think?

"He wrote this in an attempt to write a modernist love song, and how he managed to produce a bitter sweet melody that cut to the core and became something of a soundtrack/backdrop/epitaph for a fairly long, often suffering and life changing love affair. Her name was Emma." From Rob (MSN reviews)

You may find some other answers, I know, but I had to chose. Don't shoot me, ok? Don't be too anoraky (It was just for fun and I've sent small gifts like others, with my own money)! lol. John Hellier sent me a NICE Ronnie Lane Compi and a souvenir programme (Martin Veser won it, check the photo), Enzo Urli gave me two USB secured fingerprit keys, Michelle McDevitt of Audible treats records gave another soul comp, Fallin off the Reel Volume 2 won by Liz Miraglia (also check digital photos, bio and music here), Andy Ferguson of Reflex records sent me a very nice set you can see in the previous posts (Ludovic Rohaut). Thanx so much to everyone! :)

1) What the main difference between the two "Maybe I'm amazed" version in the Faces CD box?

Actually the real difference was the lead singer at the beginning of the song. One version is a Rod Stewart's one and the other was a A Ronnie Lane. There was also a live and studio difference.

2) "Maybe I'm amazed" has been produced by Paul for another artist, who?He produced it for Carleen Anderson on her best Album, Blessed Burden. Soul providence, the last one, is very good too.

She made a little squeek on stage with Paul, remember? The "Across the universe" verse and chorus. She's a great soul sister!

Actually, I did shoot it at the Imperial War Museum under the wing of a RAF plane of WW1. Dedicated to Henry Allingham, 111 years old, the oldest survivor of the WW1 in british troops, Absolute respect, really.

4) Why this photo, even if it's not the same Weller is related to Paul in a way? Well I have fantastic answers to this question with "Written in the stars, Above the clouds, etc", The question has been imagined by a sick mind (mine). I also had this funny and intelligent one : Because it’s a place where you can observe “Kosmos”, what “It’s written in the stars”, and the “Shadow of the sun”.

Actually this museum is in Greenwich and I have visited it this year. In 1999, Paul Weller played in Greenwich naval college for a Japanese TV. That was the link. I know, this is the sick serial killer aspect of my mind...

Astronomy galleries

The South Building at the Royal ObservatoryThe Weller Astronomy Galleries are part of the Royal Observatory's recent spectacular £15 million redevelopment which also includes the Peter Harrison Planetarium and Lloyd's Trust Learning Centre. The galleries are located in the South Building at the Royal Observatory (see floor plans).

5) Paul Recently asked to someone "have you forgiven me because I nicknamed you Smokey..."? Who is it? It was Billy Bragg during the Red Wedge tour, Mr Love and Justice man. They've been on the blog several times.

"Antonio Gramsci was the Smokey Robinson of Marxism," Bragg proclaims. "The true source of socialism is not intellectual discourse; it's actually caring about people. If you don't care about those people immediately around you, how can you care about the world?" The fact is, however, that long before Bragg discovered the persuasive works of Gramsci, it was all about "The Tracks Of My Tears."

But one day, Bragg recalls, "We were in the studio and Wiggy [Bragg's longtime friend and guitarist] played this snaky riff and it just got to me - just got to me. And I was, like, 'Oh, jeeze, then, you know what we could do with this? We could do this and this and go there and do this.' So me and him sat around playing that snaky riff and moving it around and eventually the words came out." The song was "Must I Paint You A Picture." Bragg says: "'Picture' was when I realized the soul feeling I'd felt all those years and was finally able to get it out. I remember playing it to Paul Weller. He came 'round my house and I played it for him and when it ended he looked at me and said, 'That's a soul song,' as if I shouldn't be writing soul songs. Of course he didn't actually say, 'You know, you're a bloody folksinger; why are you writing soul songs? I'm supposed to be the soul singer.' But the first time I toured with him, with Style Council, I'd just written 'Levi Stubbs' Tears' and I played it at soundcheck. He came up to me and said, 'Levi Stubbs? Of The Four Tops?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah,' and he just looked at me; he didn't say anything, but he gave me that same look.

It was in Jonathan Ross' show in 1991. Flavio sent us the audio file and it's been on the blog's tape for a week or more.

7) The same song has been sung by Paul Weller and Marvin Gaye. Which one?

Of course, there was Heard it through the Grapevine with Amy Winehouse, What's going on and Abraham Martin and John, Performed 11. November 1993 on a session for Virgin Radio in the UK and 14, December 1993 on WEQX radio session in Latham, N.Y. Martin Beck's great page learnt me he also played How sweet it to be loved by you, composed by Holland/Dozier/Holland in Paris, 11/14/2002 and performed by Marvin too.

8) Why Paul didn't cover any Small Faces songs on Studio 150? Well, when John Hellier asked him which song he will cover, he answered to John "None because everyone waits a Small Faces cover", but a very clever player, Ludovic, who won the third prize, found this in a Paul's interview: "If that had been my aim, the album would have been full of the Small Facesand the Beatles or whatever, but I tried to make it more objective. There was nothing more to add to those songs. Obviously, I tried to pick good songs, but not songs that were so close to the heart that it would be impossible to try and interpret them, they're so ingrained.'

9) Which Canvey Island/Southend band of the 1970s influenced The Jam with regards to wearing black suits on stage? Dr Feelgood. Paul dedicated "From the Floorboards up" to Wilko Johnson and Mike saw Wilko live turned one of his song to "floorboards"...

11) Which Motown classic did The Jam nick the bass riff of "Town Called Malice" from? Paul himself in a 1982 interview for Rock & Folk said he nicked the bass riff from The Supremes' You can't hurry love.

11) Which Paul's song should you listen to if you're in trouble to answer? I had many funny answers "Call me", "It didn't matter". The answer was "Clues". I know, I'm so miserable sometimes...

12) Who is the new Paul Weller's drummer? (This one is a joke...) I had many funny answers but I don't want to fight with anyone. Someone made a cool proposition: Sting...

Tracie Young performed this song, from her album Far From The Hurting Kind, live on The Infernal Racket Show on 91.8 Hayes FM.We interviewed her about her time spent with The Jam, when she appeared on the Beat Surrender single and was on Top Of The Pops with them too. We also asked her about being in The Style Council and she also told us what she has been up to since, which is being a Radio Dj.

2008/03/20

The third winner has won a very nice Stanley Roadbadges set and a wonderful Vinyl edition of the Lewis/Weller single. HUGE thanx to Andy at reflex record. Records stores struggle to breath and stay alive in a world where music is just files. Don't really like advertisements on the blog but people like Andy (or like Michelle from Audible treats), who offers top service and goodies every time he can (postcards, badges, collectors, etc.) deserve it. So, please, check their site. It's almost the Splinters official Record store but there's many reasons for it, believe me! :)

107 Mellow My Mind 2007-12-03 Boston MA108 Campaigner 2007-12-09 Upper Darby PA109 Love Art Blues 2007-12-16 New York NY110 Old King 2007-12-16 New York NY111 Love is a Rose 2007-12-03 Boston MA112 Old Man 2007-12-12 New York NY113 Cowgirl In the Sand 2007-12-03 Boston MA114 Heart of Gold 2007-10-20 Spokane WA115 Out on the Weekend 2007-12-19 New York NY116 Don't Let it Bring You Down 2007-12-16 New York NY